Our immigration mess

America has only itself to blame for letting illegal immigration to this country get out of hand. For decades, under both Democratic and Republican administrations in Washington, the hiring of unauthorized workers has been tacitly accepted in the United States.

Lured across our porous borders by the prospect of better lives, their numbers have swelled to about 12 million. Their presence had been tolerated, if not welcomed, because they helped to fuel economic growth.

Now, during hard times, the rise of illegal immigration has become a heated issue across the country, from the desert Southwest to the streets of Staten Island.

Workers without documentation toil here and elsewhere as gardeners, home-care providers and day laborers. For a long time, migrant workers have been a substantial part of U.S. agriculture.

It’s estimated that up to 5 percent of the entire American work force is made up of illegal laborers.

This was easier for the nation to accept in good times when business prospered by employing illegals, often off the books, and paying them low wages for jobs that most Americans weren’t willing to perform.

But the influx of illegal aliens, which first became significant over half a century ago, has grown far too large to be ignored. Their broad impact on jobs, law enforcement and social services is being questioned. What to do is hotly disputed.

It’s clear that long-awaited immigration reform - which President Obama has vowed to pursue - will not become viable politically until our borders are safe.

Last month, Congress took a step in this direction by approving $600 million in spending for border security. Beyond the issue of illegal immigration, as Rep. Mike McMahon of Staten Island pointed out, the money was needed to keep out terrorists and drug traffickers.

Since the Sept. 11 attacks, America has tripled the number of immigration agents and tightened security at urban entry points. On our frontiers, more has be done.

It is the duty of Washington to protect our borders. Leaving the states to make their own policy - as in the case of Arizona’s disputed anti-immigration law - potentially does more harm than good, especially to human rights.

Actually, much progress has been made on tightening border security, particularly in Texas and California. The number of Border Patrol agents in the Southwest has doubled since 2004. Despite public perceptions, illegal border traffic is said to be at its lowest in decades.

In the sharpest decrease in 30 years, the number of illegal immigrants living in the United States dropped by 1 million between 2008 and 2009, according to the Department of Homeland Security.

The U.S. Customs and Immigration Enforcement (ICE) agency reports that a record 380,000 illegals were caught and deported in the past year. It expects to deport about 400,000 immigrants in the coming year, almost 10 percent more than under the Bush administration in 2007.

Yet cracking down on undocumented workers has lagged. There were just 765 arrests in the past year compared to more than 5,000 the year before.

One of the reforms badly needed is a reliable way for employers to verify the status of job applicants. This will limit the benefit of illegal immigration. Secure documents and stronger penalties for improper hiring are required. Temporary permits are part of the answer for both employers and immigrants seeking migrant work.

Once the tide of illegals is greatly reduced, some accountable way must be found to openly integrate those already here into our society. Twelve million people can’t be deported. It would be logistically impossible and disrupt our economy. A firm, fair path to legalization must be found.

Offer clear steps on how illegals must come out of hiding. These can include passing background checks, learning English, paying fines and getting in line behind those applying to enter the country legally.

First things first, however. Turn away illegals at the border, which is the legitimate right and obligation of any nation. Then establish immigration reforms that undo years of neglect and benefit us all.